I'm Thinking About Getting A PPK

[akviper]

I owned three 380 PPKs over the years and a German blued 1972 PP 380. The first PPK was a late 70s German blued gun and worked great with all ammo I fed it. I built a house and sold it off for a down payment. I still wish I had it. My second PPK was a US made first year Interarms stainless gun. It was covered in sharp edges and would only feed hardball. I sold it off and didn't miss it. A few years later I tried out a later version of the Interarms stainless PPK and found the edges were nicely rounded and the finish work on the gun seemed much nicer than the earlier stainless gun. I bought it and packed it as a backup gun for several years. It is utterly reliable with all ammo I've fed it including Silvertips, Speer HP, and Federal HP. My old PP eats everything without problem as well.

The Walthers seem to vary depending on where and when they were made.

 

[slowburninsteve]

I've had 3 Interarms PPK's. They all jammed and had so many sharp edges that you were bound to get cut shooting them. All were in .380. I got rid of them and got 2 Walther PP's in .32 made by Manurhin. They are a dream to shoot with no sharp edges and extremely accurate!
Steve

 

[hobby-gunsmith]

The interarms walter .380 PPK is a great little gun. I have had one, in stainless, for well over 10 years. That is my second gun to carry when the Springfield XD.40 is too big. It is very accurate and, with practice, can master the recoil. However, if you do not grip the gun high under the tang, it will bite you and take some of your skin. If you practice using the right grip, that would not be a problem. The $500.00 is slightly high but it is subjective. S&W took over manufacturing the Walters, but it can not compare with interarms or the originals. Interamrs went out of business some time ago.

Nick

 

[H Richard]

Some of the older ammo may not have been too potent, but the new Hornady Critical Defense .380 does not take a back seat to any 38 ammo when you look at what it does to a block of ballistic jell. I do not feel under-gunned when carrying either of my .380's.

 

[M29since14]

Quote: "I'm Thinking About Getting A PPK."

To quote Bob Hope's famous one-worder: "DON'T."

 

[Raider]

I bought a stainless Interarms PPk's assembled in the USA from German parts yesterday at the gunshow and took it shooting today. It gobbled all my ball, hollow point and lead cast bullet ammo without one single glitch. Palm sized groups standing at 15 yards. I'm just an average sized guy, 5'11" and 190lbs and had no problem with recoil or slide bite. I think that is superb performance from the little gun. It's going to be my my (very) hot weather carry gun. It's earned my trust and I know I can shoot it fast and accurately.

Charlie

 

[Capt Steve]

Try a Bersa

If you want a .380 with a much better trigger than a PPK for a lot less money try the Bersa Thunder. It comes in several variations, I have the CC model with an 8 round magazine. Out to 15 yards it is very accurate shooting to point of aim and feeling very comfortable/natural doing so. It is ideal for CC, lots of ways and places to hide it. Not much recoil but ammo is pricey when you can find it. I load Winchester 95 grain SilverTip HP's and have every confidence that (like ABC Sports), they will get the job done "up close and personal".

 

[judge]

Have a German made PPK/S which is 30yrs old & works perfect. Fantastic gun, but needs a higher front sight - shoots a little high. May change the front sight someday to F/Optic. Feels good with Pachmayr grips, full wrap around, excellent control. Recoil is mild. Accuracy is excellent out to 25yrds. Highly recommended - wish I had another one in .22 cal.

 

[mm6mm6]

I bought a 1988 Interarms PPK .380 when I became a police officer. I carried it for 20 years without fail. It never jammed. Not once. I took very good care of it and I shot it very well. For some reason, it is just very ergonomic in my hands.

I also have a pre-WWII Zella-Mehlis .32 PPK, a 1966 .380 PPK, and a PP Sport .22 with the 6" barrel. All are outstanding guns that work very well for me.

I retired my stainless PPK when I bought a Ruger LCP. The LCP is much smaller, thinner, lighter and still holds the same number of rounds (6 + 1) and I equipped mine with a Crimson Trace Laser. The LCP is a true pocket gun while the PPK was always carried by me on my hip.

I treated my PPK to 75% coverage American Scroll by Michael Gouse and it now resides in my safe (but I have shot it since having it engraved). I love the PPK and believe the Interarms guns from their first few years are very well made.

 

[Rob1109]

Not a S&W but an Interarms .380 for sale locally. I don't like stainless much but this is an exception. It's pretty new in a case with 2 mags. I shot a freinds .22 and fell in love. I was given two lifetimes worth of brass, bullets, primers, and there's a set of dies, too. I've never owned a .380 before of any make. Anyone out there own a Walther variation? And how's $500 sound for this gun here in Cubafornia?

My PPK is a pre-'68 GCA .380, made in Germany. I'll let my heirs dispose of it!

 

[ColbyBruce]

Wyatt if you still want a PPK/s .380 I found a Manhurin in NC today for $350.00, one mag no box loose LH stock panel. Gun was in good condition.

 

[GyMac]

I have shot PPKs in .380 but never owned one. My brother did and it had jamming problems, as well a tendency to bite. He eventually returned it to the store he bought it from for some other gun. I have a Russian Makarov in .380, as well as a E. German in 9mm MAK. They have never jammed and IMO, the E. German gun beats the Walther, and that includes finish.

Chris

 

[sipowicz]

My German 66 was so unreliable I swear it was made by a spy from the resistance.

 

[enfield]

Now you've done it. I'll have to dig the PPK out of the safe and photograph it. Dern!

 

[FinnMike]

I had a stainless one 25 years ago; compact,accurate but heavy. I had to file off the edges of the slide serrations because with each shot pieces of the flesh from the web of my shooting hand wound up on my shooting glasses....

 

[OLDFED]

The Interarms version....

....showed consistent problems...biting, failure to eject, feed, etc. I hear that the S&W models have problems too. I sold all mine in three calibers. IMHO...the Best thing they ever did was work when Hitler offed himself in '45.